Governor for hydraulic turbines.



-7 ,2 4- I, PATENTED 0GT.11,1904. L. RIBOURT.

GOVERNOR FOR HYDRAULIG TURBINBS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24. 1903. N0 MODEL- BSHEETS-BHEET 1.

PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

7 L. RIBOURT. GOVERNOR FOR HYDRAULIC TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.2 4. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

N0 MODEL.

Flip 2.

Devenma Zoaz fifoourl UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 19 04.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEON RIBOURT, OF VESINET, FRANCE.

GOVERNOR FOR HYDRAULIC TURBINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,294, dated October11, 1904.

Application filed December 24, 1903. Serial No. 186,477. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON RIBoURT, a citizen of the Republic of France,residing at Vesinet, Seme-et-Oise, France, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Governors for Hydraulic Turbines, of which thefollowlng 1s a specification.

This invention relates to governing devices for turbines; and the objectof the same is to provide a simple and eflicient means for effectmg andassuring uniformity in the operation of the turbine, despite variationsin the head of Water supplying the latter and in the load. If the speedof a turbine is to remain uniform, which is almost universally thecondition aimed at, the available energy developed by the hydraulicmotor alone supports the fluctuations in question.

Centrifugal regulators or governors such as are nowin use forcontrolling the admission of water to the turbine do not. so far as I amaware, assure a sufficiently uniform speed under allconditions, and itis the purpose of the present invention to obtain this result, and itsconstruction permits of this for the reason that it developsconsiderable power for operating the motor device of the sluice-valvesof the turbine, even with the slightest variations in speed and whatevermay be the power of or the conditions under which this mechanism isconstructed. Furthermore, my device operates, in addition to therelay-valve adapted to ordinary fluctuations, a larger valve-underextraordinary conditions for permitting the quick closing of thesluice-valves of the turbine. This construction permits of dispensingentirely with fly-Wheels and also permits of employing light turbinesrunning at high speeds and developing high powers. Another advantage ofmy device is that it permits of employing devices the dimensions ofwhich are independent of the size or importance of the turbine to begoverned. Therefore the regulator can be applied to any installation,whether already existing or to be constructed. It is only required thatthe regulator or governing means shall be connected in some convenientmanner with the motor device or re lay operating the sluice-valves ofthe turbine through the ordinary or any suitable mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the comparative delicacyof control of the centrifugal governor and of the governor hereindescribed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the entire apparatus,showing the governing device connected with the motor or relay foroperating the sluice-valves of the turbine. Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalview of the cut-ofi or obturator, on a much larger scale than Fig. 2;and Fig. 4 is a cross-section at line MM in Fig. 3.

A tank H, containing oil or water, has immersed in the liquid a rotarypump or meter Z, which is driven by the turbine to be regulated andwhich produces a constant circulation of the liquid in the direction ofthe arrows. Pendent in the tank H is a tubular body K, having an inlet Rat its side connected with the eduction side of the meter Z. Extendingdown through the axis of the tube K is a piston-rod I, connected with apiston D in the tube above the inlet R, and with a sharp-edged diskpiston F in a nozzle E on the lower end ofthe tube and forming a con'tinuation thereof. The piston D is backed by a spring'l, which tendsalways to press the pistons and their rod downward, and the tension ofthe spring is regulablc by means of a screw-plug U in the upper end ofthe tube K. The important feature of this device resides in the nozzle Eand disk piston F. Hence this feature has been illustrated in detail inFigs. 3 and 4. The cylindrical bore G of the nozzle E is of lessdiameter than the bore of the tube K and piston D; but the nozzle isprovided in the wall of its bore with a plurality of V-shaped grooves 0,which begin at a point near the upper part of the nozzle and extend toits lower end, becoming gradually larger toward said lower end. As allthe liquid delivered by the meter Z atR must pass out through thesegrooves to the induction side of the meter, it will be noted that thecross-section of the outlet will be governed by the position of diskpiston F in the nozzle. The higher it ascends the more contracted willbe the outlet, and the lower it descends the more open and free will bethe outlet. The pressure of liquid from the meter at the inlet R tendsto drive the piston D upward with a pressure governed by the differencein area of the two pistons D and F, and this is resisted by the springT. This device as a whole forms a cut-off or obturator.

At the normal speed of the turbine the meter Z forces the liquid tocirculate as described, the moving parts of the odometer assuming acondition of equilibrium, which is dependent on the volume of liquiddelivered, the cross-section of the discharge-opening at the nozzle E,the pressure of the liquid in circulation, and the tension of the springT. If the velocity of the meter increases, there will be a correspondingaugmentation of the liquid-pressure on the pistons D and F and they riseslightly, compressing the spring T and reducing the cross-section of theoutlet in the nozzle. This reduction or partial closing of the outletincreases the pressure of the circulating liquid. This increase inpressure is utilized through means and under conditions which will nowbe described.

A ballasted plunger-float B depends into the liquid in the tank H and isprovided at its upper end with a rack C, which gears with a curved rackQ on one end of a floating bar Q, and this bar carries at its other enda like curved rack Q which gears with a rack J on the upper end of thepiston-rod P, which carries the piston P of the motor relay or engine,which operates the sluice-valves of the turbine. Water is admitted toand discharged from the cylinder L through a port 20 below the piston P,and the flow of water to and from the cylinder is controlled by aslidevalve 0 in a chest N. WVater enters the chest through a pipe 9 andto and from the chest and cylinder by a pipe 8. The water exhaustsnormally by a pipe 25. The valve-stem e is coupled through an eccentric.2 to a link f, suspended loosely from the middle of the bar Q.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the pressure increases in the tank Hfrom the causes above stated, the float B rises, its rack C rocking thebar Q about the teeth on the rack J as a fulcrum. This rack cannot atfirst descend, because the liquid under the piston P is cut off fromescape by the slide-valve a; but as the bar Q is moved upward it carriesup with it the valve 6, which thus opens the ports of both the pipes sand t under the valve, and thus allows the liquid to exhaust from thecylinder L through the pipe t. The piston P now descends and closes thesluicevalves of the turbine. At the same time it carries down with itthe rack J, the bar Q being thus made to turn about the contact of itscurved rack Q with the rack C as a fulcrum. The valve 0 is thus shifteddownward until it comes to the dead-point. The valve remains thusimmovable as soon as the tendency of the float B to move upwardceasesthat is to say, when the regular velocity is attained and theoutput or delivery from the meter Z has come back to the normal.

In order to maintain in the motor controlling the sluice-valves all themobility desired and to assure precision in its movements, it will bedesirable to give to the piston P and valve 6 very moderate dimensions;but with these minimum dimensions of the valve the ports controlledthereby would be insufficient to insure the quick closure of thesluice-valves of the turbine in a case, for example, where there is asudden throwing off of the load from the turbines in largeinstallations. To insure in such cases a very rapid closing of thesluicevalves, recourse will be had to the means shown in Fig. 2, whichwill now be described.

A plunger-float S depends into the liquid in the chamber H, and itsupper end is cou-' pled to one arm of a lever X. The other arm of thislever is coupled to a rod '0, which passes through a stuffing-box downinto a cylinder N and rests on the valve V, which is held up to a seatin a partition in the cylinder by a spring 00. The chamber in the cylinder W below the valve is connected with the exhaust from the cylinderL by a pipe y and above the valve by a branch pipe 6 to the exhaust t.The valveV will be held normally closed tight, andthe float S will be soballasted that it will not be actuated by slight fluctuations ofpressure in the tank H; but if there should be an exceptionalacceleration in the velocity. of the turbine and consequently amomentary abnormal pressure on the liquid in the tank the float S willbe lifted, and this movement through the lever X and rod '0 will depressand open the valve V, thus permitting the water under the piston P toescape rapidly, so that the said piston may descend and quickly closethe sluice-valves of the turbine. V

The eccentric-coupling 2 of the valve-stem Q with the pendent link ffrom the bar Q enable the valve 0 to be set with reference to said barby turning the eccentric around more or less. This has the same efl ectas shortening or lengthening the valve-stem. This rotation of theeccentric is effected by hand and by its means the valve may be shiftedin such a manner as to exhaust the liquid under the piston P, and thusclose the sluice-valves of the turbine without regard to the speed ofthe latter or to the pressure on the liquid in the tank H. The turbinemay thus be stopped in a moment, if necessary, and by reversing themovement of the eccentric the turbine will be again set in motionthat isto say, such reverse rotation of the eccentric pushes down the valve 6and uncovers the port leading to the pipe 8, so that water may flowdirectly from the pipe g to the cylinder L and drive upward the piston Ptherein.

The diagram in Fig. 1 compares the delicacy or sensitiveness of theordinary centrifugal governor to slight fluctuations of speed with mydevice, and this diagram will now be explained.

The equilibrium power of my governor being represented by the distancefrom m to n, the ordinate 2 corresponding to the normal speed, theeffective sensitiveness of the device is represented by m p or m p forvariations in speed of one per cent.- up or down. With the centrifugalgovernor the sensitiveness is represented by q 1 or q 9". In thisdiagram,ct 0

. o designates in dotted lines the parabolic curve indicating themeasure of sensitiveness of the ordinary centrifugal governor used withtur bines for controlllng the servomotor-relay,

. and c 0 d designates in full lines the corresponding curve producedwith the governor or odometer herein described.

Whatever may be the special form of the servomotor relay or device whichefieets the closing and opening of the sluice-valves of the turbine, theimportant and essential feature is that through this relay the veryquick and sensible variations of pressure in the liquid circuit oftheodometer shall react almost instantaneously on the sluice-valves andshall bring back the parts to the neutral point as soon as the odometeritself shall have become stable at the normal speed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A governing device forregulating the speed of a turbine, comprisinga tank containing a liquid,means, driven by the turbine regulated, for producing a continuouscirculation of the liquid in the tank in a closed circuit, and automaticmeans controlled and operated by the moving liquid for obstructing theflow proportionately to the speed of the current, whereby the pressureincreases directly with the increase of speed.

2. A governing device forregulating the speed of a turbine, comprising atank containing a liquid, means, driven by the turbine regulated forproducing acontinuous circulation of the liquid in a closed circuit, andobturating means controlled by the moving liquid for obstructing theflow proportionately to the speed of the current, said obturating meanscomprising a tube through which the liquid must flow, an outlet-nozzle Eon said tube, said nozzle having a bore G and flaring grooves 0, apiston-rod extending through the tube, a piston D on said rod, a springback of said piston, and a disk piston F on the rod and playing in thegrooved bore of the nozzle, the inlet for the liquid being. between saidpistons, and the outlet being through the grooves of said nozzle.

3. An apparatus for the purpose specified, havinga tank containing aliquid, automatic means for increasing the pressure on said liquid indirect proportion to the increase in speed of the turbine governed, amotor-relay for operating the sluice-valves of the turbine, and meansactuated by the pressure on said liquid and controlling the flow ofwater to and from the motor-relay.

4. An apparatus for the purpose specified, having a tank containing aliquid, means for increasing the pressure on said liquid in directproportion to the increase in speed of the turbine governed, amotor-relay for operating the sluice-valves of the turbine, meansactuated by the pressure on said liquid and controlling the valve of themotor-relay, an auxiliary valve controlling the exhaust of themotor-relay, and means actuated by the pressure on said liquid andcontrolling said auxiliary valve.

5. An apparatus for the purpose specified,

having a tank containing a liquid, means for increasing the pressure onsaid liquid in direct proportion to the increase in speed of the turbinegoverned, a motor-relay which operates the sluice-valves of the turbine,and means whereby variations in pressure on said liquid control themotor-relay, said means comprising the float B, dependent in the liquidin the tank, its rack C, the rack J on the piston-rod of themotor-relay, the floating bar Q, provided with curved racks gearing withthe respective racks C and J, and means coupling the bar Q, with thevalve of the motor-relay for operating said valve.

6. An apparatus for the purpose specified, having a tank containing aliquid, means for increasing the pressure on said liquid in directproportion to the increase in speed of the turbine governed, amotor-relay which operates the sluice-valves of the turbine, meansactuated by the pressure on the liquid in the tank and controlling thevalve of the motor-relay,

and auxiliary controlling means for causing the motor-relay to close thesluice-valves quickly, said means comprising a float S depending in theliquid in said tank, a valve closing the exhaust of the motor-relay, andmechanism between the float S and said valve whereby the rise of thefloat opens the valve.

7 An apparatus for the purpose specified, having a tank containing aliquid, means for increasing pressure on said liquid proportionately tothe increase in speed of the turbine governed, a motor-relay foroperating the sluice-valves of the turbine, said relay having acontrolling-valve, a float in the liquid in the tank provided with arack, a rack on the piston-rod of the motor-relay, a floating bar hav-1ng curved racks which gear respectively With the above-mentioned racks,a hnk suspended from said floating bar, and an eccentric .2,-

coupling said link With the stem of the controlling-valve of themotor-relay, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

